From upstate New York I'm new on here and just picked up a 70 skylark in need of a lot of work. It currently doesn't run or stop but I have cleaned out a couple of mouse nests and got the driver door opening from the outside so far. It's a black on black 350 2bbl auto car, no hei which was interesting to me. Power steering and power 4 wheel drums, no ac. So my plan is to get it running and driving and use it. From there I will put discs on the front, do a light rebuild on a 455 my cousin gave me, put the th400 that I have into it and put either the Buick rally wheels on it or steelies with dog dish caps. Then it will probably get some parts I got off a car in the junk yard, a GS hood and N25 rear bumper. The car in the junkyard was a 350 GS, 4 speed, but it was shot, like no floors from the tail panel to the firewall and door to door, and all of the 4 speed stuff was gone. I have always been a GM guy, but it was my cousin that rubbed the Buick on me. He has a 70 GS 455 stage 1 auto, black with black interior and white seats. It is fully restored and runs mid 11's on all motor and is driven to the track and uses pump gas. He also has a 84 regal with 455 and metric 200 trans with GN hood and front air dam that I helped him put together.
Welcome to the Buick fold.... Lotsa good knowledgeable folk here to help ya along the way. I'm partial to 70s as I own one too. Jim
Thanks everyone, here are some pictures of the new toy. As cool as the vintage wheel looks I will probably get a factory steering wheel.
Hi everyone. After more research it looks like HEI wasn't standard until later. So I guess it's more disappointing than interesting, I prefer HEI. I guess that explains the Stinger 66 box on my cousin's GS.
You can install HEI in your car. Look here: http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?th...ystem-function-tests-and-modification.248990/ While your soaking in some of Larry's knowledge, read this as well: http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/power-timing-your-buick-v8.63475/ Enjoy.....Jim
Ok, I changed the spark plugs, oil and filter. Fixed the passenger turn signal wires that a mouse chewed through. Still no spark, sanded the points and still nothing. Looks like more parts are needed. I'm going to get a coil and see how that goes. I'm sure I could get out the multi meter and trouble shoot exactly what is wrong but everything is so old that some new parts wouldn't hurt reliability.
Ok, New coil in and still nothing. I checked into the wiring and the negative on the coil didn't do anything so I put a jumper on it and still no spark. New condenser time... and since they come with points I am not going to change them yet so I don't have to mess with setting them or I could put the multi meter on some more stuff...
http://buick.oldcarmanualproject.com/manuals/1970/1970 Service Manual/index.html https://www.teambuick.com/reference/library/71_chassis/ These are online versions of manuals for 70 and 71. Wouldn't be a bad idea to search out a hardcover version on Ebay . Don't throw parts, anyone can do that... Be a mechanic, diagnose the problem, and save some money in the process. Jim
Welcome, I also live in Upstate NY. I suggest changing out the alternator to a self regulating one and get rid of the external regulator the same time you switch over to the HEI. I did it to my 455 and it helps clean up the engine bay. If you ever see my car at the shows come say hi. I have a lot of spare parts I will be getting rid of.
Hi everyone. Yes, after finding the wiring issue with the coil, I should do some trouble shooting. So this Skylark has aluminum accessory brackets, does that mean anything? What was the deciding factor in what cars got them and which ones didn't.
Hey, uticageoff. So I put the multi meter on the condenser and no movement on the needle. So it's condenser time! I will admit I think the old coil is good, but the last time I didn't have spark it was on an HEI but it was the coil.
So I was closer to a used HEI distributor but the bolt was not coming out. I did pick up some rocker moldings and an extra power steering pump aluminum bracket. I have an eye on some Buick rally wheels I know where a set of 14s are but not sure if there is a full set of 15s and I want 15s. I may 14 front and 15 rear, or buy 15s until I have a set, not sure. Back to the car, not much closer to it running ugh. I was messing around with it and it has spark at the points if I pull them apart it zaps. So currently I am thinking points or wires. Or maybe my spark tester is junk, but it's not running so I don't know. I looked for a build sheet quickly under the rear seat but didn't see it, I will pull it up and see if I can find it.
